Page 28 of The Brigadier

I was so damn terrified, I reacted or maybe overreacted, struggling to get the door opened. Without hesitation, I bolted out, racing behind the car and back toward the apartment.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Danny yelled.

Seconds later, I could hear footsteps behind me, the man tackling me, shoving me against the brick wall.

Danny crowded my space, shaking his head. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“I got scared. He looked at me. He smiled. He…”

“I don’t give a shit. You could have gotten yourself killed. Come on. You’re not doing that again. Do you hear me?”

There was no telling how many times I’d nodded. I knew better. Of course I did, but I was completely out of my element, more terrified than I’d been in my life. He jerked me along, keepingme covered as he headed back to the car. I was able to catch a quick glimpse of Maxim holding a gun on the perpetrator before I was shoved back inside, the car door slammed. Danny was cursing.

More grunting sounds.

Brutal thuds.

Finally, a single shot.

I covered my ears, doing what I could not to panic. A few seconds went by, fortunately hearing both Danny’s and Maxim’s voices.

Then the trunk opened.

And a body was dumped inside.

This was surreal.

No, this was very real.

I was caught in the middle of a nightmare.

CHAPTER 10

Nikolay

“We come bearing baggage,” Danny said.

“You got him.”

“Yeah, had to shoot him in the leg to keep the bastard from killing Maxim but he’s safely in the trunk.”

I was pissed beyond belief but grateful the two men had caught the bastard. “After you bring her here, take him to the icehouse.”

“That’s what I was thinking. We’ll be there in five.”

“Is Chantel… okay?”

“Terrified but not a scratch. She thinks she’s a badass though. Jesus.”

“Okay. Just get here.” A badass. That told me she’d tried to run.

I was beside myself as the five minutes passed, furious that someone had gotten to a member of my family. That meantthe entire family, possibly the whole regime was being watched, which didn’t bode well for the safety measures we’d used.

When I noticed headlights, I placed the weapon in my waistband behind my back. The girl knew the drill. She’d been trained, but the last thing I needed was to scare her to death.

I was at the door before a knock or a ring, glancing into the camera on the security system before throwing it open.

Chantel was soaked, her long hair sticking to her face. When she lifted her head, I was more furious than I’d been in a long time.